First O/U

M

mzcloud

Regular
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Location
Toronto
Hi guys,

I just joined the Galt yesterday and now looking for a first shotgun. Prefer an over and under but I don't wnat to spend too much. A guy at the club recommended the Stoeger Competition which is about $700 and in my price range. Any other recommendations? I want to get out and shoot this Sunday.
 
IMO - none of the cheap doubles are up to the task of clay shooting. Its easy to put thousands and thousands of rounds through a gun each year.

There's several extremely knowledgeable Galt members posting here regularly. Guns are a very personal choice - you would do well to make some friends there and try as many shotguns as you can. Are you thinking trap, sporting clays, skeet, ???

I started out shooting trap with a pump shotgun (Rem 870TB). I broke my first 25 and was chasing 50 with that gun.
 
I am thinking about the 870 pump from remington but I like to shoot sporting clay. Which 870 is that the one you got? I heard the express models are not as durable. Is that correct?
 
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Mike has offered some good advice. Take your time if possible. Some of the stations on the current layout at Galt are pretty demanding and shooting them with a pump gun would be fun but definitely an added challenge. ;)

Over/unders are nice but the good ones aren't often cheap and the cheap ones aren't often good. Have you considered a semi-auto such as the Beretta 391, Browning Gold, Winchester Super X2/X3 or even a Remington 1100?

Seach 391 in this forum and you'll find they have many fans including me. They are more expensive than $700 but you could find a good used one for around $1,000 and I think that would be money better spent than on a Condor.
 
Mine is an 870TB. Its a Wingmaster frame with a stock setup for trap and a 30" full choke barrel. Not a sporting clays gun IMO - you really need screw in chokes for that. Its a solid gun with a very nice stock - they don't make the 870 like this anymore! (even the current Wingmasters)
 
MauserMike said:
Mine is an 870TB. Its a Wingmaster frame with a stock setup for trap and a 30" full choke barrel. Not a sporting clays gun IMO - you really need screw in chokes for that. Its a solid gun with a very nice stock - they don't make the 870 like this anymore! (even the current Wingmasters)
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It isn't for sale by any chance is it?
 
Claybuster said:
Mike has offered some good advice. Take your time if possible. Some of the stations on the current layout at Galt are pretty demanding and shooting them with a pump gun would be fun but definitely an added challenge. ;)

Over/unders are nice but the good ones aren't often cheap and the cheap ones aren't often good. Have you considered a semi-auto such as the Beretta 391, Browning Gold, Winchester Super X2/X3 or even a Remington 1100?

Seach 391 in this forum and you'll find they have many fans including me. They are more expensive than $700 but you could find a good used one for around $1,000 and I think that would be money better spent than on a Condor.
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Which Beretta 391 would be a better choice if I decide to go for one. I know they range new from 1300-2000. There is one with extreme low recoil, is that one good?
 
mzcloud said:
Which Beretta 391 would be a better choice if I decide to go for one. I know they range new from 1300-2000. There is one with extreme low recoil, is that one good?
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The low recoil gun has a mercury recoil reducer in the butt stock. Unless you are really recoil sensitive I wouldn't bother with it. Any gas-operated semi-automatic will have less felt recoil due to its design than a pump or o/u. The gas action delays the recoil making it feel softer.

The 391 I chose was the basic 391 Sporting with Optima chokes. I preferred it because it wasn't as covered in useless bling-bling like the Teknys and because I wanted the matte finished on the receiver as this gun also doubles as a waterfowl gun. I also like the basic gun because it has a white bead instead of the flourescent glow tubes which I don't like.

You might also check the used market for an older 391 with Mobile chokes. They are just as good as the newer Optima but are often found for less money.
 
Win/64 said:
It isn't for sale by any chance is it?
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I didn't feel appropriate pimping my EE ad listing but the gun is well within his price range if he were to shoot trap. I don't think its the best choice for the stated purpose of sporting clays.

CB - does the Urika have that space inside the stock for a recoil reducer?
 
MauserMike said:
I didn't feel appropriate pimping my EE ad listing but the gun is well within his price range if he were to shoot trap. I don't think its the best choice for the stated purpose of sporting clays.

CB - does the Urika have that space inside the stock for a recoil reducer?
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Mine does. I checked. I didn't like the way the recoil reducer changed the gun's handling so I left it as is.
 
OK thanks, I'll see when I get the stock off.

I'm probably going to swap out the recoil spring soon for insurance. They say every 10k rds or so over on shotgunworld, but I have no idea how much the gun has been shot.
 
Again, barrel length very personal choice IMO. The length of the barrel affects the balance of the gun and how it swings on the target.

It is also notable that break guns need a longer barrel to achieve the same overall length as an auto or pump, with their longer receivers. E.g. If a break gun guy tells you to use 32" barrels, on a semi auto that's more like a 30".
 
mzcloud said:
what do you guys choose in terms of barrel length? Does it have to do with your height? I find most ladies use a shorter barrel.
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I shoot a 32" o/u and a 30" semi. For sporting clays the trend is to longer barrels. I probably would stick to nothing shorter than a 30" o/u and a 28" semi-auto.

Longer barrels make makes the swing smoother cuts down perceived lead. It doesn't have anything to do with your height. I know a 5'2" shooter who uses a 32" o/u. When she shoots the gun looks almost longer than he is tall but she does very well with it.
 
here are my 0.02
if you plan to do a lot of clay, get a good quality over/under from a quality gun maker.
I would not recommend a pump or semi, only because you will make some shooters a bit nervous moving from one station to another, but if you are safe and follow the "etiquette", then pick up whatever gun that "fits" you.
like most folks would recommend, go to the club on Sunday morning, bring some ammo, and talk to the shooters, very likely they will invite you to try their guns. and if you can talk to some of more experienced shooters they will tell you how to pick a gun that fits you. Also google Shotgun Fit, and you will learn a lot.

as for barrel length, I shoot trap, 5 stand and SC with a 12g 30" Browning Cynergy, works well for me amd I love it. I find it too long for skeet, and I dont shoot it that much anyway. maybe next your I will buy a 26" for skeet.

Galt is an excellent choice, great facilities, most diciplines, great folks and conveniently located if you live in TO or west of it.
Welcome aboard. I am not going tomorrow, but PM me and we can go next week (weather permitting) and I can bring some shotguns for you to try.

most important, take your time and find the shotgun that fits well.
If you dont want to shoot other people's guns then you can go to LeBaron, and shoulder the gun and see how they fit (do the research to know what Fits means), if you find one you like then try to find a used one.
Gun shows and acutions are another source of moderately priced guns.
 
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mrefaat said:
I would not recommend a pump or semi, only because you will make some shooters a bit nervous moving from one station to another,
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Are you talking about a safety issue? Because if you are you are shooting with the wrong people.
 
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